The Motor Neurone Disease Association seeks to ensure that people
affected by the disease get the care and support they need. It also
promotes research into causes and treatments

Total income: £8m for the year ending 31 January 2005, up from
£7.1m in 2004.

Highest salary: Two employees earned between £50,000 and £60,000 each.

Reserves policy: The target level for cash held by the national office
is five to six months' general spending. The target for total reserves
at branches is one to two months' spending.

At the year end, general reserves represented about four months'
spending and branches two months'. This was a big improvement on the
position in January 2004.

Fundraising costs: The charity's voluntary income was £7.5m and
its fundraising costs were £1.5m, giving it a fundraising ratio of
20p in the pound.

How performance is communicated: The annual report and the glossier
annual review are both clearly written. As well as describing what the
charity does, the reports link its activities during the year with
objectives from the previous year, thus making it accountable.

The reports also flag up objectives for the following year. Both reports
are available on the website www.mndassociation.org.

The charity says: "Following a period when our level of reserves impeded
progress, the year saw a significant improvement in the key reserves,
and this enabled a number of programmes to be funded. Income from
charitable trusts was up by 28 per cent, reflecting an experienced trust
team. Likewise, we built on our volunteer fundraising activities,
increasing income by 45 per cent. Our donor base performed well during
the year, beating income targets for mailings to existing donors."

Have you registered with us yet?

Already registered?

If you see a comment you find offensive, you can flag it as inappropriate. In the top right-hand corner of an individual comment, you will see 'flag as inappropriate'. Clicking this prompts us to review the comment. For further information see our rules for commenting on articles.